How to Use Networking to Discover Job Opportunities at Conferences

“Let me know if you hear of any jobs you think would be good for me…” 𝙉𝙤. This is the absolute wrong way to approach networking and trying to find out about job openings. I’ll tell you why it’s wrong first and then suggest some much more effective alternatives. It is an UNREASONABLE ask. It is no one’s job to keep an eye out for opportunities for you. It also puts the power in someone else’s hands - what are you going to do while you’re waiting? And, unless the individual is close to you and has a vested interest in the outcome of your job search, it’s ineffective. 𝙒𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙬𝙤𝙧𝙠𝙨 𝙞𝙣𝙨𝙩𝙚𝙖𝙙? Here are a few suggestions: 💼 Tell people you are networking with what companies you are interested in, and ask if they have any connections there 🏢 Ask people what companies in your industries are growing and/or great places to work 💻 Monitor the career pages of the companies your connections work at and when you see roles that interest you, get back in touch to see if they have any insights about the job, or know the hiring manager 📨 Stay top of mind with regular (every 4-6 weeks) email check-ins, sharing posts of mutual interest, updating them on your progress and follow-up on any suggestions they made These 4 strategies are far more likely to yield the results you are looking for. Try them out! Not sure how to navigate your job search, networking, or where to begin? Get my free 10 Habits of Successful Job Candidates here! https://lnkd.in/e66-iSpX #OpenToWork #JobSearchTips #CareerCoaching #LinkedInTips #ProfessionalNetworking #CareerDevelopment #JobHunting

In the last 3 years, I helped 49 clients find the job they love. The common networking advice job seekers get: Step 1: Send generic connection requests. Step 2: Wait (and hope) for responses. Step 3: Share your resume immediately. Step 4: Repeat until success. I found a better approach: 1. Research the right people: Focus on recruiters, hiring managers, and practitioners in your target field. 2. Personalize every message: Mention shared interests, their work, or the company in your outreach. 3. Start with value: Ask thoughtful questions or express genuine admiration for their expertise. 4. Build a relationship: Engage with their posts or provide insights before asking for help. 5. Follow up strategically: Stay polite and persistent without overwhelming them. If you follow this process, you'll build meaningful connections that can help you find the place where you enjoy working.

The best piece of advice I was given about networking: Don't give people your resume. Do this instead! When I was 38, a former colleague gave me an unforgettable piece of advice. I was starting to look for a new job after being laid off. I'd been running myself ragged trying to meet people who could help me. But, like most beginners, I was making a lot of mistakes: • Applying online for jobs and never hearing back • Going to useless networking events, and • Cold calling the wrong people, Until one day, my colleague said to me: "𝙔𝙤𝙪 𝙣𝙚𝙚𝙙 𝙩𝙤 𝙘𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙩𝙚 𝙖 𝙏𝙖𝙧𝙜𝙚𝙩 𝘾𝙤𝙢𝙥𝙖𝙣𝙮 𝙇𝙞𝙨𝙩." That day, my whole approach to networking changed. A Target Company List (TCL) is a list of companies you are interested in learning more about. These are companies where you might want to work. It’s: • A physical, formal list. It doesn’t live “in your head” • Formatted like a resume. You could hand it to someone. • Not laminated. You can make adds and changes to it as you get feedback You create this list by thinking of the type of companies where you want to work. Ask yourself: • Which industry do I want to be in? • What size company do I want to work at? • Which companies have values that align with mine? • Which companies have job postings I’ve applied to? • Which companies are on “Best Places To Work For” lists? Once you create your professionally formatted list, you start giving it to people during networking meetings. Either hand them a physical, paper copy or send it via email. When I got this advice from my colleague, I didn’t understand why the TCL would work, but as I used it over the years, I’ve come to understand why it’s an effective networking tool. When you're in a networking conversation and the other person says, “How can I help you,” most people give them their resume. This makes you hard to help. Who should the person give your resume to? On the other hand, if you give them your TCL and ask, “Do you know anyone who works at one of these companies,” it’s easy for them to say “Yes” or “No.” If they say “Yes,” they can introduce you to the person via email. Now, you know someone at one of your target companies. If they say “No,” you can ask if there are other companies like the ones on the list where they know someone. If they do, you get and introduction at a company you have never considered. If they still don’t know anyone or any companies, let them take the list home. There’s a good chance they’ll think of someone later. The TCL forces you to get specific about how other people can help you. The more specific you are about how someone can help you, the more likely you are to get help. P.S. - This weekend, I'm sharing another tip on Being Easy To Help in 𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝙄𝙣𝙩𝙧𝙤𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙩𝙚𝙙 𝙉𝙚𝙩𝙬𝙤𝙧𝙠𝙚𝙧. This is my weekly newsletter where I teach you to be a better networker. Not a subscriber? Sign up for FREE when you hit the link under my headline at the top of the post ☝️